Trashed And Scattered – Avenged Sevenfold

Master the Techniques of "Trashed And Scattered" by Avenged Sevenfold

"Trashed And Scattered" is a high-energy track from Avenged Sevenfold’s 2005 album City of Evil. Known for its blistering guitar work, powerful riffing, and intricate solos, this song is a must-learn for any guitarist looking to expand their skills. Our note-for-note lesson at Licklibrary.com breaks down every aspect of this song, helping you master the techniques used by Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance.

In this lesson, you'll not only learn how to play the song but also gain a deeper understanding of key guitar techniques that will enhance your overall playing ability. Below, we’ll explore each of these techniques in detail and explain why mastering them is essential for your growth as a guitarist. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.


About the Guitarists: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance

Avenged Sevenfold is known for its dual-guitar attack, thanks to the phenomenal playing of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance. Synyster Gates is renowned for his virtuosic soloing, melodic phrasing, and ability to blend shred with emotion. His playing style incorporates advanced techniques such as sweep picking, tapping, and intricate harmonies. Zacky Vengeance, on the other hand, delivers tight, aggressive rhythm work that lays the foundation for the band’s signature sound. Together, their guitar interplay creates the intense and melodic textures that define "Trashed And Scattered."


Key Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

Alternate Picking

This song’s rapid-fire riffs require precise alternate picking. By alternating upstrokes and downstrokes efficiently, you’ll develop greater speed and control, making fast passages feel effortless.

Palm Muting

The chugging rhythm sections in "Trashed And Scattered" make extensive use of palm muting. This technique adds percussive depth to your playing, allowing you to create tight, aggressive tones essential for metal rhythm guitar.

Pinched Harmonics

Synyster Gates frequently employs pinched harmonics to add an aggressive, squealing effect to his lead lines. Learning this technique will give your playing a signature metal edge.

Legato

Smooth, fluid runs in the solo sections rely on legato playing, using hammer-ons and pull-offs to create effortless motion across the fretboard.

Two-Handed Tapping

One of Synyster Gates' signature moves, two-handed tapping, appears in this track's lead sections. Mastering this technique allows for lightning-fast licks and wide interval leaps that are difficult to achieve with picking alone.

Sweep Picking

The neoclassical-inspired solo features sweep picking, a technique that creates smooth, flowing arpeggios. This technique is crucial for achieving the speed and fluidity found in advanced solos.

Unison Bends

Adding melodic tension to solos, unison bends are used in this song to create expressive, high-energy phrases.

Double-Stop Bends

This song features double-stop bends to add a bluesy, harmonized feel to certain lead lines, making your playing sound fuller and more expressive.

Trills

Fast trills appear in the solo sections, requiring quick hammer-ons and pull-offs to execute properly. This technique helps develop finger strength and speed.

Dive Bombs

Synyster Gates makes use of dive bombs for dramatic, high-impact moments in the song, utilizing the whammy bar to create wild pitch drops and screams.

Power Chords

The driving rhythm of "Trashed And Scattered" is built on power chords, a fundamental technique for rock and metal guitarists. Mastering these shapes ensures you can lock in with any rhythm section.

Chromaticism

Some of the fast runs in the solo incorporate chromaticism, a technique that adds tension and unpredictability to lead playing.

Whammy Bar Tricks

The lead work in "Trashed And Scattered" includes expressive whammy bar tricks to add vibrato, pitch dives, and fluttering effects, making solos more dynamic and expressive.


List of Techniques Used in This Lesson

By mastering these techniques, you'll not only be able to play "Trashed And Scattered" but also enhance your overall guitar skills. Whether you're a rhythm player looking to tighten up your chugging patterns or a lead guitarist eager to add speed and fluidity to your playing, this lesson is packed with valuable insights. Dive in and take your guitar playing to the next level with LickLibrary!

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Andy James

Andy James needs little introduction as one of the most popular LickLibrary tutors, respected the world over for his unbelievable technical skills and teaching material. "As a player Andy has released a string of solo albums, the last being 2012's ""Andy James"" on Transcend Music which was met with huge...

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